Hand operted embossing tool



Oct. 31, 1961 D. w. SOUZA 3,006,451

HAND OPERATED EMBOSSING TOOL Filed April 27, 1959 I FE-aim //VVE/VTORDAV/0 W Soul/1 United States Patent 3,006,451 HAND OPERATED EMBOSSINGTOOL David Souza, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Dymo In- ;lustrres, Inc.,Berkeley, Calif., a corporation of Caliorma Filed Apr. 27, 1959, Ser.No. 809,072 4 Claims. (Cl. 197-6.7)

This invention generally relates to tools for embossing various letters,numbers or other indicia on. a strip of material, and is moreparticularly directed towards an improvement in the type of tooldisclosed in Patents Nos. 2,275,670 and 2,415,526.

In the above cited patents, there is generally provided a hand operatedtool in which a strip of material to be embossed is fed past a pair ofdies, actuation of a handle effecting movement of the dies to emboss thestrip and release of such handle serving to advance the strip and placethe same in position for receiving the next embossment. While such atool possesses certain features of advantage, it will be readilyappreciated from a study of these patents that the portion of the stripbeing embossed is located at a substantial distance from the end of thetool where the strip emerges as well a from a window or cut-out portionthrough which the embossed portion of the strip is visible. As a result,the operator has no way of ascertaining what particular indicia has beenembossed until the strip reaches the window. Conse quently, if theoperator wants to visually check his last embossment, it is necessaryfor him to advance the strip until the last embossment registers withthe window, and then move the strip rearwardly, and attempt tolongitudinally orient the strip so that the next embossment would beproperly positioned. This latter operation is, for all practicalpurposes, impossible of accomplishment. Likewise, after a length ofstrip has been embossed and cut from the end of the tool, the user caneither waste the portion of the strip extending between the dies and thecutter, or can once again effect a rearward movement of the strip in thedifiicult task of trying to blindly position the free end of the stripclosely adjacent the embossing dies.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anembossing tool of the character described in which the strip of materialmay be readily advanced past the embossing members for visualexamination or the like, and in which such strip may be likewiseretracted to its exact starting position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool as above describedin which a conventional strip advance and retraction mechanism may beutilized, but which is modified in an extremely simple manner to permitpositive longitudinal indexing of the strip during movement of thelatter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter referred to in which either the end of the strip or apreviously embossed portion thereof may be properly oriented relative tothe embossing dies for subsequent operations.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It isto be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention, as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the embossing tool.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view.

FIGURE 3 is another side elevational view, but looking at the other sideof the tool than that shown in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, showing aportion of the structure shown in FIG- URE 2, parts being broken away todisclose features of internal construction.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially in theplane indicated by line 55 of FIG- URE 4.

As hereinabove explained, the present invention constitutes animprovement in the strip advancing and retracting mechanism disclosed inthe previously cited patents whereby the longitudinal position of thestrip may be simply and positively oriented relative to either the stripend or to prior embossments marked thereon. Before describing theparticular means by which this is accomplished, reference should firstbe made to the drawing, wherein a conventional tool is disclosed for thepurpose of embossing selective indicia on a strip 12 of metal, plasticor the like. As herein shown, and as described in said patents, the toolincludes a longitudinally extending body 13 provided with a magazine 14at the rear end thereof, in which a roll of said strip material may becontained. The forward end of the body is provided with a transverse pin16 to which an operating handle 17 is connected for pivotal movementfrom and towards the body. .The body and handle each have generallyopposed channel-like cross-sectional forms for assisting in guiding thestrip 12 as it passes from the magazine to the front end of the tool.

To feed the strip 13 through the tool, a pair of friction rolls 19 and21 are utilized. The upper roll 19 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 22extending transversely of and journalled in a medial portion of thebody. Also mounted on the shaft is a manually operable drive wheel 23,positioned in a cut-out portion adjacent an edge of the body, and aratchet wheel 24. It will thus be clear that upon manual rotation of thewheel 23, shaft 22 and the roll 19 and ratchet wheel 24 will likewise berotated. The lower strip advancing roll 21 is journalled on a shaft 26and positioned adjacent the roll 19 so as to be driven thereby.

Ratchet wheel 24 is normally engaged by a pawl 27 pivotally mounted onthe handle and resiliently urged into engagement with the ratchet wheelby a torsion spring 28. The arrangement is such that when handle 17 ismoved towards the body, the pawl will freely ride over the teeth in theratchet wheel 24. However, upon release of the handle, the pawl willengage the teeth and rotate the ratchet wheel in a counter clockwisedirection (as viewed in FIGURE 4), thereby rotating shaft 22 and itsassociated drive rolls for advancing the strip.

The pawl has an angular extension 31 adjacent its pivotal connection tothe handle, whereby it may be manually released from engagement with theratchet wheel to permit rearward movement of the strip.

The handle is normally held in the open position shown in the drawing bya coil spring 33 extending between the handle and a plate 34 carried bythe body, such plate serving as a support for a pair of manuallyrotatable cooperating embossing dies 36 and 37 bearing the desiredindicia, such as letters and numbers. Die 37 is provided with flexibleteeth bearing the indicia, with each of such teeth being engageable by aplunger slidable in a sleeve 38, as clearly set forth in said patents.The front end of the tool is provided with a strip cutting device 39,also as fully described in said patents.

To complete the description of the conventional tool, it will also benoted that a link 41 extending between shaft 22 and the pivot 42 for thepawl is provided, and is slotted adjacent the latter to permit freemovement of the handle from and towards the body.

- a 3 :From the foregoing description, it will be understood that afterthe strip is fed between the rolls 19 and 21, and the dies set to adesired position, actuation of the handle will result in an embossmentbeing made on the strip and release of the handle will result in thepawl rotating ratchet wheel 24 the distance of one tooth and positioningthe strip for the next embossment. If the user desires to check on hislast embossment by rotating the knurled drive wheel in acounterclockwise direction in order to view the strip through the window43, cut from the body, he can retract the strip by pressing on theextension 31 to release the pawl from ratchet wheel engagement androtating the drive wheel in a clockwise direction. However, with thestructure just described, it is impossible for the user to accuratelyreturn the strip to the position for receiving the next embossment.

Accordingly, as the principal feature of this invention,

means are provided permitting accurate strip control so thatirrespective of the amount of strip advance or retraction, the user canaccurately relocate the strip relative to the last embossment. As hereinillustrated, this is preferably accomplished by means of a detent 51mounted on the body and frictionally engageable with the teeth of theratchet wheel 24. The detent has a flat spring body and an integralarcuate portion engageable with the teeth. In this manner, the strip canonly be advanced or retracted with audible clicks, and the operator canalso feel the respective engagements of the detent with teeth.Consequently, if the user wants to determine his last embossment, he maymerely advance the strip a counted number of clicks until the embossmentappears in the window 43, and then may readily reverse the movement ofdrive wheel 23, thereby properly positioning the strip for the nextembossment. As a further assistance to the operator, a line or mark 52is provided On the body adjacent the Window, such mark being positioneda predetermined distance from the embossing area, e.g. the distancecorresponding to a rotation of five teeth on the ratchet wheel.Therefore, the operator, in making his check, may advance the stripuntil his last embossment is aligned with the mark 52. Then, he needonly retract the strip for five clicks by the detent 51 on the teeth.

As a further feature of this invention, a second mark 53 is positionedadjacent the window, rearwardly of mark 52, which visually advises theoperator where to place the end of the strip in commencing hisoperations.

From the foregoing description, it should be appreciated how a simple,inexpensive modification can add new utility and function to aconventional tool.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool for embossing a continuous strip of material, having abody, a handle pivoted to said body, com plementary die members on saidbody between which said strip is adapted to pass and actuated bymovement of said handle towards said body, a strip feed roller disposedrearwardly of said die members, a ratchet wheel and a manually rotatabledrive wheel transversely journalled on said body for simultaneousrotation, a spring loaded pawl engageable with said ratchet wheel andnormally limiting rotation of said wheels and roller in a singledirection, means for releasing said pawl, and means interconnecting saidhandle and pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel in said single directionupon handle actuation, said body having an opening forwardly of said diemembers through which said strip is visible, the combination with saidtool of a detent resiliently urged into contact with said ratchet wheelduring each direction of rotation of the latter to indicate the degreeof rotation of said ratchet wheel and said feed roller andconsequentlythe length of strip advanced or retracted, and said bodyhaving a mark adjacent said opening longitudinally spaced from saidembossing die members adistance equal to apredetermined degree ofrotation of said ratchet Wheel.

2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a second markon said body adjacent said opening and spaced from said embossingmembers a different distance than said first mentioned mark.

3. In a tool for embossing a continuous strip of material having a body,a handle pivoted to said body, die means on said body actuated bymovement of said handle towards said body for embossing said strip, aratchet wheel, a strip feed roller disposed rearwardly of said die meansand operatively connected for rotation with said ratchet wheel, and apawl operatively connected to said handle releasably engaging saidratchet wheel for unidirectional rotation thereof for advancing saidstrip past said die means upon movement of said handle away from saidbody, said body having strip viewing means positioned forwardly of saiddie means through which embossed indicia on said strip are visible; thecombination therewith of a detent independent of said pawl engageabiewith said ratchet wheel during each direction of rotation thereofwhereby said strip may be advanced in order to expose the lastembossment through said viewing means and then retracted an equal amountto properly position the strip for the next succeeding embossment.

4. In a tool for embossing a continuous strip of material, having abody, a handle pivoted to said body, complementary die members on saidbody between which said strip is adapted to pass and actuated bymovement of said handle towards said body, a strip feed roller disposedrearwardly of said die members, a ratchet wheel and a manually rotatabledrive Wheel transversely journalled on said body for simultaneousrotation, a spring loaded pawl engageable with said ratchet wheel andnormally limiting rotation of said wheels and roller in a singledirection, means for releasing said pawl, and means interconmeeting saidhandle and pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel in said single directionupon handle actuation, said body having an opening forwardly of said diemembers through which said strip is visible, the combination with saidtool of a detent resiliently urged into contact with said ratchet wheelduring each direction of rotation of the latter to indicate the degreeof rotation of said ratchet wheel and said feed roller and consequentlythe length of strip advanced or retracted whereby said strip may beadvanced to position the last embossment in said opening and thenretracted to position the strip for the succeeding embossment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS478,964 Ienne July 12, 1892 699,921 HartOg May 13, 1902 920,530 BradleyMay 4, 1909 2,415,526 Payne Feb. 11, 1947

